iPhone and dock questions

[MisterE12]

I am looking at disconnecting from Sprint. Anyone know how much that will cost me?

Okay moving on, couple of questions. I mainly listen to podcasts also some music. Will I be able to use the iPhone on any of the older iPod docks? There is one with a built in clock and FM that I am looking at, kind of like the iPod home dock. Will it also charge it?

Next question, can I delete the podcast from the iPhone when I am done listening to it? Or maybe anyway to track it in iTunes? I have never really used iTunes before, so any help there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for any help,

 

[CharonPDX]

You'd have to check with Sprint to find out how much your early termination fee would be.

Yes, the iPhone works with essentially all iPod docks, and iPod dock speaker systems. Ones that aren't "Designed for iPhone" might have audio interference because of the GSM radio, but the iPhone itself knows if it's plugged into a non-approved device, it pops up a dialog box asking if you want to go into "Airplane mode" to avoid the interference. Airplane mode will turn off the cellular, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth radios, so you will be unable to receive phone calls in the dock, but it won't make the annoying GSM-interference noise.

Podcasts are handled in two ways. First, the iPhone (or any iPod) and iTunes keep full track of where you are in the Podcast. That means that if you listen to the first 10 minutes of a podcast on your computer, then sync your iPhone, when you start playing that podcast on the iPhone, it will start right where you left off. Likewise, when you re-sync to your computer, if you left off at the 45 minute mark, then when you play on the computer again, it will play on the COMPUTER at the 45 minute mark.

For syncing, you have the option of syncing Podcasts based a few factors. You can specify which individual podcasts to sync, first. Then, you can apply (for all you choose to sync,) either syncing all episodes, the 'newest' certain number (1, 3, 5, 10,) or the 'newest unplayed' certain number. "unplayed" means that it will only sync it if you haven't even STARTED to play it. Once you have played it, even if you haven't finished it, it will avoid syncing it to the iPhone.

Once a podcast is on the iPhone, it will, by default, stay on the iPhone until your next sync, at which point it will follow your sync rules. If you told it to sync only 'unplayed' podcasts, and you watched any of it on the iPhone, then it will remove it. Also, if you watch a podcast in its entirety, when it reaches the end it will ask if you want to remove it. (It also does this for TV show episodes and movies.)

Any more questions?

Oh, one little idiosyncracy regarding podcasts... The "iPod" on the iPhone has a "Podcast" section (it has "Playlists", "Albums", "Artists", "Genres", "Songs", "Composers", "Compilations", "Audiobooks", "Video", and "Podcasts" as its ways you can browse your library.) If you browse by "Podcast", video podcasts only play their audio. If you browse by "Video", it will list your video podcasts at the bottom of the list, and play their video normally. Just an oddity to make note of. (Basically, the only way that it plays video is if you browse by "Video". Same for Music Videos. They will be listed in the 'music' category listings, but will only play their audio track that way.)

 

[MisterE12]

Wow..! I couldn't ask for more then that. Thanks for answering my questions. I am going to call in the morning to see what it will cost to disconnect.

Thanks again.